Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: mollie2 on November 22, 2015, 10:01:17 AM
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Does anyone suffer from this? Im still trying my hardest to get sorted but my issues seem to fall on deaf ears with the doctors and they keep saying nothing is wrong,, Im in so much pain all the time, Sore, itchy, nerves hurting.. I was first told it was a urethral prolapse and then Gynae said nothing was wrong,, My lumps are visible and prominent and pressing on nerves.. So after hours googling my symptoms seem to match vestibularistis which goes with the thrush feeling,, I need this sorted but doctors arent interested, I now have to wait a further 12 wks to see another Gynae as the other one discharged me.
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Do you mean vestibulitis mollie2?
I'm not sure that you get lumps with that but I know it is a very painful condition. I think that you should go back to your GP and explain that this is what you think it is and he could prescribe amitryp to help with the pain which seems to be the recognised treatment. However, you may find that he/she wants you to see the gynae just as you are. If treatment is begun before your consultation they might not get a proper picture. We have threads on here about vulval pain. Have you seen this site http://www.vulvarvestibulitisrelief.com/
Taz x
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Been there and done and get ignored.
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I haveny had any treatment cos im being ignored im so p&&d off and frustrated, I feel as though my bits are going to come out,, When ive looked theres a big fleshy bulge thats completly covering the inside and its quite mucousey and causing nerve pain from pressure..
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I'm not sure that sounds typical of vestibulitis Mollie. Where did you find the information which made you think it might be that? My fleshy bit was the cystocele - bladder prolapse - but I see you haven't been diagnosed with that. Have you been checked for Bartholin's cyst?
Taz x
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Yep,, Just a nightmare x
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Plus its not in the area of a bartholin cyst 😩
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I thought these cysts, if they got big enough, were right at the entrance to the vagina and made it difficult to stand, walk, sit down or have sex. They can also leak which I think you mentioned was happening in an earlier post or maybe I got that wrong.
Taz zx
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They are at entrance but on outside, What i have is a flesh coloured lump covering the inside so you cant see the inside of the vagina,, It causes swelling,nerve pain, itching, mucus and i feel as though its going to fall out, it causes pressure like im sitting on something and it feels as though ive got thrush all the time.
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Have a word with your Practice Nurse ?
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Or, Mollie, find your local sexual health clinic and get them to take a look? You usually get a same or next day appointment and they're pretty expert. Might at least give you some useful advice?
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Dont think the nurse will know more than the Gynae or doc some how and as its not sexually related i cant see thatll help, Im sick of showing my bits tbh
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But it is 'sexual' ;) ……… and the Special Clinics are non-judgemental and have advice not often considered by GPs ::)
Our Nurse knows a lot more than some of the GPs in our Practice ;). The GP I see has an interest in womens' health so have a look-see on the Surgery web-site to see what your GPs 'cover'.
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Sorry i meant not sexually transmitted x
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Mollie:
I sympathize!!! I suspect that is your urethra. It runs down along the anterior wall of your lower vagina and when estrogen levels decrease, the last couple of centimeters before the opening(where you urinate) can sort of sink down and show up as a mucus covered ball at the opening of your vagina, showing up right in the middle when you look in the mirror. It should be attached at the top or front part of your vagina/vulva. Don't worry, it is all covered by vaginal mucosa which is why there is mucus. You are able to see it so well because maybe? your vulvar folds are flattened and thinned also so you are more "open"? It feels like thrush because that is what vaginal dryness, then atrophy feels like and if it gets worse it burns constantly. If soap gets on it it burns, if urine gets on it it burns. When not burning it feels like a golf ball sitting at the entrance with irritation. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH???? It can get better in a week or a day and then come back. Even when not too bothersome, you are constantly AWARE of your bits.
Sometimes this happens before major physical changes show....it did with me. Part of the irritation may be from your bladder/urethra as the mucosa can thin there in menopause also. It is hard to tell the difference where the pain is coming from sometimes...bladder/urethra or vagina (down low). All the docs said everything looked normal, but I still felt the nerve pain and it burned. I was tested for all kinds of infections of the bladder and vagina at least 3 times and nothing showed. I tried many things to stop the weird sensations, irritation and then burning for several years. Local vaginal estrogen made me worse, because the doctors gave me creams and I was allergic to the fillers in the creams. Systemic HRT was finally the answer for me.
You might ask (OR DEMAND) to be allowed to try some local vaginal estrogen to see if it helps. In the mean time, you could consider to try a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water and see if the burning goes away in about an hour or so. Try going without knickers at home and spray off with water after urinating instead of wiping. Ibuprofen can help too.
Good Luck!
Take CKLD's advice and ask them if it could be vaginal atrophy and ask for some local estrogen.
Please let us know how you get on, OK?
Andius
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And, Mollie, I've been to the sexual health clinic when I wasn't sure if I had thrush, cystitis or whatever. They're experts in that bit of your anatomy - they're not just about sexually transmitted diseases. If nobody else is being much help, why not give it a try? You can more or less get a walk in appointment.
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Good advice andius although mollie is already on HRT and Vagifem http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,29568.msg471922.html#msg471922
Mollie - the way your gynae examined you - on your side from the back - is the correct way to diagnose a urethral or bladder prolapse. The speculum is also the right thing to use too. I hope you do get some answers soon.
Taz
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But when they have examined me that way they have said nothings wrong,, My GP who spotted it had me on my back and looked and felt and she didnt use anything, In hindsight I think by using something they are moving it and opening me so its pushed so they miss it if that makes sense x
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It does make sense but I know from my frequent examinations that this is the way that some prolapses are detected. Urethral prolapse is very rare though so I can see how you fear it may have been missed. Are you managing to pass urine ok? It also seems that the mucosa covering the prolapse bleeds on contact and is very painful to touch.
I think that andius post may be helpful to you while you wait for your appointment.
Taz x
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Aww i just wrote a long reply and it disappeared 😩😩😩 YES 😁😁 This is it!!! Finally someone knows, Thank you!! Yep exactly this only i dont sting with peeing and pee ok,, Sometimes i sting generally and badly,, First went to the gp as i was raw and thought it was thrush but no discharge just raw and swollen then this lump came with the mucas and my god the burning started badly which got me distressed so i was given vagifem which helped,, This lump feeling is causing me stress and nerve pain and generally ruining my life.. Most Gp's have missed it as they dont look front on and use speculums that i feel push it away,, The only thing is is that i dont get any pain with peeing or using soaps,, I feel as though my insides are going to fall out and yes i feel swollen and open,, Im worried my partner will notice as well,, Does this condition require an operation or can it be cured otherwise? What can i do to make it better? Im sorry i have driven you lot mad ( im driving myself mad ) Can anything fall out? And should i go to the clinic do you think?,, Im on hrt at the mo, What is systemic hrt? Im so glad someone on here has spotted my problem 😁😁😁
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Nothing will fall out though it might feel like it >:( but 'things' might move a bit because as oestrogen levels drop off, muscles become lax …….. what did you decide? Do let us know as all experiences shared are helpful to others ::) and there will be others ……….
;D I hate it when I type a really good, intellectual reply and it then disappears :bang: ………. out there in cyber space, spinning round ::)
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What type of hrt are you on and how often do you take it?? Are you still on vagifem also, and how do you take it?
Do you use progestin or progesterone and how do you take it? Do you use testosterone?
Someone earlier mentioned amytriptylene. I have used that in low doses occasionally and it helps to numb those feelings below. You might visit your GP also and ask for some of this to hold you over until you can get this resolved.
Andius
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I am on amitriptyline and can only take a low dose as i can't tolerate it, I use vagifem a few times a week , I dont see it helps if i take it more ofet, The HRT is femoston 2/10 and its an everyday one.. I feel so much better know someone knows what im talking about and i will glady share with others.
Taz2 what do you mean what did i decide? Do you mean going to the clinic?
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Well it sounds like you are covered with the femoston for HRT. Maybe you are using too much?? vaginal estrogen and it is causing irritation?
Vagifem does have fillers that you can be allergic to but estring does not. Can you try leaving off the vagifem for a while or cutting the pill in half and using that instead of a whole one 2x/week to see if it helps?. You could ask to switch to estring also as an alternative to vagifem.
The only other thing I can think of to try was something my doctor told me to do when I was really having a hard time with this and they couldn't find anything wrong. If you get some low dose hydrocortisone ointment (not cream) at the drugstore (non prescription), you can put a thin layer on the vaginal opening with a Q tip to see if that decreases the inflammation. I was worried it might cause thinning of the skin, but the doctor told me not to worry about that with such a low dose. She told me to alternate it with vaseline in the morning and night and I did find that it gave me some relief.
Good luck,
Andius
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Hello mollie2.
I don't have any words of wisdom I'm afraid but I am so pleased that the wonderful ladies on this forum could help you, it's one of the reasons MM is so valued.
Take care.
K.
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Huge relief I can tell you, I thought I was going out of my mind and I really thought I had an abnormal foof 😳 I have had so many issues since I starfed my periods 30+ years aho but this is by far the worst and I will glady help anyone if I can xxx
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I was giving the vagifem pesseries for the burning! The lump came the same time as the burning and stinging, I didnt know I could get ointment, I have the cream but will go to the chemist,,, The joys of being on the change!!!